Traer Historical Museum volunteers and 2024 Governor’s Volunteer Award winners Sharon Stoakes, second from left, and Joan Reuman, second from right, pictured alongside their respective spouses Dennis Stoakes and Mike Reuman during the museum’s annual meeting held on April 25 in downtown Traer. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TRAER – Approximately 35 people attended Traer Historical Museum’s annual meeting and ice cream social on Thursday, April 25. Fifteen people climbed the Winding Stairs before the meeting to tour the Star-Clipper building’s upper floor – the former office and production center for the Traer Star-Clipper newspaper.

The building and spiral staircase are listed on the National Register of Historic Places which is the official list of the nation’s historic resources worthy of preservation. Visitors observed the dilapidated condition of the building and expressed the need to fund repairs and remodel this building.

Photos were on display back at the museum showing the Star-Clipper office and printing equipment in the early to mid 1900s. Visitors also saw the newly acquired barber chair and were able to view the recently completed Dinsdale School and town display.

Volunteers donated a total of 1,038 hours to the museum in 2023. Two volunteers were recognized as 2024 Governor’s Volunteer Award winners including Sharon Stoakes and Joan Reuman.

Sharon Stoakes, who joined the board around 2007 and is the accessions director, donated 318 hours, or 31% of the total hours worked by volunteers at the museum during 2023. She often spends six to eight hours at the museum cataloging historical items, entering data into Past Perfect, returning phone calls and emails, and giving impromptu tours. She also is active in her church and helps her husband on the farm.

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Joan Reuman was instrumental in creating the Traer Historical Museum, and has served on the board and as the secretary and treasurer. She has been involved with the Traer Fire Department, the Traer Chamber of Commerce, the Winding Stairs, the Ripley Congregational Church and the Traer Theater. She created a business history book that has been used to create plaques of history soon to be available for each Traer business. She has helped the cemetery board update its map using GPS coordinates. Joan created a quilt to raffle for a fundraiser for the Winding Stairs.

Sharon and Joan will be honored by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds later this summer.

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